SHADOW CAST

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 129, 2 June 1945, Page 7

SHADOW CAST

CRISIS OVER SYRIA

REACTION AT SAN FRANCISCO (By Telegraph—Press Association—Cooyrioht

SAN FRANCISCO. May 31

France has been told by the other members of the Big Five that the actions of her troops in Syria were interfering with the acceptance of the French request for changes iv the world security charter. The French replied that there was no connection between the fighting in Syria and the writing of the security charter. It would not help the United Nations, they said, to allow a temporary squabble to affect a charter designed to last for generations. I France asked the other members of the Big Five to change the wording of the charter to make it clear that alliances directed against Germany should j ibe able to operate without interferi ence from the new League of Nations ' and remain in force even if the world ' security council took measures necesj sary to maintain international peace and security. Russia supported France. The United States delegates told the French that they did not wish to change the charter again, especially since, in the American view. France had, under the present wording, virtually as much freedom of action as she would have under the proposed amendment. j FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. The BYench contended that, though the change they sought might not make much difference to the other members of the Big Five it was important to the de Gaulle regime at home. Thereupon the United States pointed out that, in view of the actions of the de Gaulle regime in Syria, there was no great impulse to take action at San Francisco merely to help General de Gaulle. It is considered that if the new world charter were operating there would .be nothing tv prevent Syria bringing her case before the security council, which would be sitting in constant session. France would be charged with aggression. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr. Henri Pharaon. has cabled UNCIO appealing to the United Nations to make France cease using violence against a disarmed country and to intervene to end a situation which had become intolerable. The correspondent of the "New York Herald Tribune" said that UNCIO appeared tonight to be bogged down so badly that its chances of 100 per cent, success may be endangered unless the Big Five settle their own disputes and reassert their leadership to drive the agreements through to acceptance by the small and middle Powers. Some delegations are already saying that the conference may not end before June 25 unless something drastic is done to re-establish the Big Five's authority and hurry things along. UNCIO may end as Dumbarton O?ks did. without a final decision and with a face-saving statement that a 90 per cent, agreement was reached and that the other 10 per cent, would be settled some time in the future. REPORTS TO ASSEMBLY. The committee on the general assembly's political and security functions voted by 26 to 3 that the security council should include in its reports to the assembly an account of measures which the council has adopted or applied to maintain international peace and security. This decision is hailed as a victory for the smaller Powers, which will strengthen the assembly's authority. At the same time the language of the decison removes the authiority sought by some countries to permit the assembly to make recommendations to individual member nations. However, the assembly is enabled to sit in judgment on the council, being free at any time to make recommendations to the council, except regarding matters which the council is considering or acting on. The trusteeship committee agreed to make independence the objective for areas under trusteeship, but to leave only self-government as the pledge to other dependent areas, such as colonies. Dr. Wellington Koo withdrew the Chinese amendment, which would have included independence within the general policy. The chairman, Mr. Fraser. expects the committee to complete its work and report to the commission early next week;